Hippie sailor takes Garland ladies on an epic adventure

In the early 70s, Rowan Quince and four friends dropped out of university and set out on a hippie adventure to sail the Mediterranean in search of a deserted island to inhabit.

The voyage took a couple of unexpected turns and the tale enthralled and delighted the women of the Garland Ladies Luncheon Club, hosted at the Ebotse Golf and Country Estate on May 26.

The former English teacher visited the monthly club luncheon to relay the colourful antics of the group’s two-year adventure.

According to Quince, who calls himself the hippie sailor, none of them had had any sailing knowledge but the desire to establish a hippie colony on an uninhabited island helped them steer through unknown countries on a barely seaworthy vessel.

“In those days we were reading what was deemed controversial material by the then ultra-conservative government,” he said.

“We wanted to break free from the shackles of society and hopped over to Swaziland where we signed up to manage a Johannesburg-based businessman’s farm.

“We were subsequently removed from the farm and sent home when he realised that the growing hippie community had only managed to plant and harvest a single radish crop.”

He continues by saying that is when the idea of sailing and discovering a fruitful island was hatched.

“We travelled from England to the Mediterranean using the French channels and from there crossed the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro to finally reach Cape Town,” he said.

“Our journey was like no other and one that will be cherished. We must not cease from exploration as every day is an adventure waiting to happen.”

For more information about the Garland Ladies’ forthcoming events, or to become a member, email grace@gracevanzyl.com.

ALSO READ: Garland Ladies hit the runway

ALSO READ: Garland Ladies hear about harrowing hijacking ordeal